Kathmandu, July 22: Tensions within the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have flared as party president Rajendra Lingden intensifies disciplinary action against dissenting leaders, prompting fierce resistance from the faction led by senior leader Dr. Dhawal Shumsher Rana.
Lingden’s removal of senior leaders, including discipline committee coordinator Nawaraj Subedi and later Vice President Mukundashyam Giri, has sparked a political firestorm. Critics accuse the RPP president of unilateralism and constitutional violations, while Lingden insists those who disagree with the party’s direction are free to leave.
The crisis deepened when Subedi, who had publicly declared his exit from the party, was formally stripped of his post. The disgruntled faction responded by lodging a petition at the Election Commission, demanding reinstatement. Lingden, undeterred, appointed Roshan Karki in Subedi’s place and doubled down by sacking Giri—one of Subedi’s defenders—prompting further outrage.
A joint statement by senior vice president Bikram Pandey, general secretaries Rana and Kunti Shah, and Giri himself denounced Lingden’s actions as autocratic and damaging to the party’s democratic image. Sixteen RPP officials from Karnali, aligned with Giri, issued a separate appeal demanding his reinstatement.
Giri has accused the leadership of personal vendetta and undermining his decades of political contributions. “This is a betrayal of my sacrifice and service,” he said, vowing legal recourse within party structures.
Lingden, meanwhile, remains defiant. Over the weekend in his home district Jhapa, he declared that ideological divergence was grounds for separation. “Those who disagree are welcome to leave or form a new party,” he said at a Mechinagar event, signaling a readiness to go to battle against internal rivals.
Despite mounting pressure, Lingden’s camp refuses to reconsider decisions. Party spokesperson Mohan Shrestha dismissed the appeal to the Election Commission as a “spectacle,” arguing the president acted within constitutional bounds. “There is no room for review,” he said.
This power tussle has roots in earlier disagreements, including over the speaker post in provincial assemblies and Rana’s removal as head of the party’s organization department last October. Once allies during the last general convention, Lingden and Rana now lead opposing camps.
Insiders say the feud is no longer just about positions—it’s a strategic build-up for the next general convention scheduled for December. The dissenting camp, which suspects former RPP chair Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani of orchestrating behind the scenes, has warned that if decisions are not reversed, they will push for a special general convention. Such a move requires signatures from at least 25% of general convention representatives.
“Lingden’s continuous purge will not go unchallenged,” a dissident leader said. “We will demand a special convention if necessary.”
People’s News Monitoring Service
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